In line with the directives of NCEMA to take the precautionary
measures against COVID-19 ABU DHABI, The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic
Development, ADDED, has issued a circular to the managers and owners of
shopping malls and centres, food retailers and pharmacies operating within Abu
Dhabi to provide thermal inspection devices and cameras at the main entrances
of their facilities which needs to be rented through the National Emergency
Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, NCEMA.

The new directive stated that placing thermal inspection devices
and cameras is an important move that will enable shopping malls and centres
from implementing the highest levels of precautionary and preventive measures
to protect their visitors and shoppers before entering their malls. These
devices will also be linked to NCEMA and in return, malls will pay fees for the
service that will be determined at a later time. It also highlighted the
necessity to inform mall visitors that shopping and visiting period cannot
exceed more than two hours in order to reduce the overcrowding of shoppers
inside the malls and maintain the directive of operating with only 30 percent
of malls’ capacity.

ADDED noted that the circular is in line with the precautionary
measures to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus, COVID-19, and is part of
the implementation process of the NCEMA’s directives to curb the impact of
COVID-19 in Abu Dhabi. The move follows previously issued circulars regarding
the installation of thermal inspection cameras at commercial entrances to
examine customers, following the plans to reopen malls and other commercial
outlets.

Rashed Abdul Karim Al Balooshi, Undersecretary of ADDED, said
that the new circular is part of the constant coordination and cooperation
between the Department and the NCEMA in ensuring all necessary measures in the
emirate for public health and safety against COVID-19, including all relevant
services necessary to maintain everyone’s safety in line with the health
regulations.

Al Balooshi added that the Department’s operation team is continuously
coordinating with mall managements in Abu Dhabi to supervise the implementation
of the precautionary and preventive measures in accordance with the circular
and regulations, granting them permission to reopen the facilities within the
emirate and ensure their readiness and ability to implement all the required
guidelines.

Al Balooshi further explained that shopping centres that comply
to the terms and conditions will be granted permission to reopen and receive
visitors and shoppers. On the other hand, he stressed that the shoppers should
follow the procedures in ensuring safe shopping such as standing at the
entrance in front of the thermal examination camera, shopping for a maximum
period of two hours, wearing face masks, gloves, and applying enough distance
between other visitors, as well as the use of credit card payment, among
others.

In conclusion, he raised the importance of shopping malls’
consistent efforts to adhere to all the guidelines and regulations that were
set as conditions for their reopening. These key guidelines include keeping the
capacity of shoppers inside mall up to a maximum of 30 percent; ensuring the
spacing between individuals while shopping; and ensuring that general service
companies operating in malls conduct frequent cleaning and sterilization of
escalators, elevators, washrooms and other places that are mostly used by
shoppers.